@article{ref1,
title="Spinal fractures in older adult patients admitted after low-level falls: 10-year incidence and outcomes",
journal="Journal of the American Geriatrics Society",
year="2016",
author="Jawa, Randeep S. and Singer, Adam J. and Rutigliano, Daniel N. and McCormack, Jane E. and Huang, Emily C. and Shapiro, Marc J. and Fields, Suzanne D. and Morelli, Brian N. and Vosswinkel, James A.",
volume="65",
number="5",
pages="909-915",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence of spinal fractures and their outcomes in the elderly who fall from low-levels in a suburban county. <br><br>DESIGN: Retrospective county-wide trauma registry review from 2004 to 2013. SETTING: Suburban county with regionalized trauma care consisting of 11 hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Adult trauma patients aged ≥65 years who were admitted after falling from <3 feet. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and outcomes. <br><br>RESULTS: Spinal fractures occurred in 18% of 4,202 older adult patients admitted following trauma over this 10-year time period, in the following distribution: 43% cervical spine, 5.7% thoracic, 4.9% lumbar spine, 36% sacrococcygeal, and 9.6% multiple spinal regions. As compared to non-spinal fracture patients, more spinal fracture patients went to acute/subacute rehabilitation (47% vs 34%, P <.001) and fewer were discharged home (21% vs 35%, P <.001). In-hospital mortality rate in spinal and non-spinal fracture patients was similar (8.5% vs 9.3%, P =.5). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Low-level falls often resulted in a spinal fracture at a variety of levels. Vigilance in evaluation of the entire spine in this population is suggested.<br><br>© 2016, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2016, The American Geriatrics Society.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0002-8614",
doi="10.1111/jgs.14669",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14669"
}